Sherrill Park Golf Course will start offering limited course services beginning Thursday, April 16, 2020. Online tee time booking and cart rental will be available for course play but almost all other services are closed or operating with modified levels of service.
The addition of online payment services follows new guidance provided by the Attorney General’s Office regarding Governor Abbott’s Executive Order No. GA-14, which states engaging in physical activity, “…is allowed so long as the necessary precautions are maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID- 19 and to minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.” The order was signed by Governor Abbott earlier this month and is currently set to be in effect until April 30, 2020.
In order to operate safely and under state guidelines, Sherrill Park is enacting the following steps to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.
- Tee times can only be made on the Sherrill Park website. Walk-ups are not allowed; you must book a tee time online.
- Patrons may not enter the property earlier than half-an-hour before their tee time.
- Customers are allowed only one rider per cart unless a small child (age 10 and under) is with a parent. (Carts are booked at time of payment and sanitized after each use.)
- There are no discounted green fees and punch-card service will return once operations return to normal.
- Practice on putting greens is not allowed.
- Driving range is closed.
- No spectators allowed.
- All CDC guidelines and social distancing practices are posted on site and must be followed.
(PATRONS WHO FAIL TO ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE REQUIRED TO LEAVE.)
Please also note the following:
- Cup liners have been placed above ground level, preventing the ball from going in the hole. Any ball that hits the cup liner is deemed to have been holed.
- Rakes have been removed from bunkers and sand bottles from carts to avoid the chance of spreading the virus through repeat contact.
- Water coolers and ball washers have been removed/covered.
- The clubhouse is closed. (Restrooms are available on the course.)
- Snack bar offers window service only.
Country Club Operations in Richardson
Members of private country clubs may utilize the course if there is no interaction with employees of the golf course. Private country clubs may allow their members to walk or use golf carts while utilizing the course if carts are sanitized after each use. Golf course operations, such as pro shops and snack cart, must be closed unless services have been otherwise altered to meet mandated guidelines.
Other Richardson Recreation Facilities
Recently Gov. Abbot also announced the closure of Texas state parks to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The measure is consistent with the actions taken by the City of Richardson to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to temporarily closing high-traffic and commonly used facilities, recreation areas with gate access have also been temporarily closed, such as the Ann Eisemann Inclusive Playground and Bush Central Barkway dog park.
In open areas such as trails and fields, residents are urged to follow proper social distancing etiquette to protect themselves and to be respectful of others.
The best etiquette to follow while in the outdoors is to:
- Follow the CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to trails—wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.
- Observe at all times CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of six feet from other people. Practice it and know what it looks like. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike.
- Warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times. Signal your presence with your voice, bell or horn.
- Note that trail and park users may find public restrooms closed—be prepared before you leave and time outings so that you are not dependent on public restrooms.
- Bring water or drinks—public drinking fountains are disabled.
- Refrain from using playgrounds and other similar amenities that cannot be properly disinfected.
(Updates on the City’s emergency response can be found on the City of Richardson’s COVID-19 news page at www.cor.net/coronavirus.)